Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

To be clear, the woman who won the recent court case, and she is a constituent of mine, basically did so on a technicality. She was at pains to point out that this does not apply to the vast majority of the survivors of symphysiotomy.

I have here the Statute of Limitations (Amendment) Act. I imagine introducing the legislation I request would get the support of every Deputy in this Chamber. These are very brave women. They have long campaigned for truth and justice. The Taoiseach is right. This was an act of barbarism. There is all-party support for this issue. When the Taoiseach was in opposition he supported them. The Minister for Health moved a motion in support and therefore there is an imperative that the Statute of Limitations is lifted. That is what is preventing those women who want to go to court from taking that avenue.

Sinn Féin could introduce a Private Members' Bill and if it comes to it, we will but this is not a party political issue. This is an issue the Government should make time for and which I am sure all the parties in this Dáil would support. It is the very least we could do. Many people have been afflicted by injustice, and this did not happen on the Taoiseach's watch, but these women suffered major trauma. We can rectify that in so far as it is possible to show them that we, as legislators, are prepared to uphold their rights as citizens. I appeal to the Taoiseach to give a commitment to lift the Statute of Limitations for just 12 months.

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